Middle Tennessee State women’s basketball coach Rick Insell likely can’t count the number of times he has been asked about retirement the past few years.
But he knew the time was coming sooner rather than later.
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Insell made it official on March 19, announcing his retirement from coaching at the conclusion of the season, marking the end of arguably the most successful era of women’s basketball the school has seen.
“I guess, more than anything, it’s about my grandkids,” said Insell, citing wanting to spend more time with his family, including his wife, Deb. “I’ve had to make major decisions over the last couple of years, as far as having to put (family) on the backburner, and I didn’t like that. I’ve kind of always put family first, but my team is my family also. I couldn’t always be there to watch (grandchildren) do what they want to do.”
His son, Matt Insell, who is the team’s associate head coach, has been named his successor.
Insell, 74, has spent 49 years as a coach, including the past 21 at MTSU. His contract was set to expire on June 30 and Insell was earning an annual salary of $316,000.
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Rick Insell likely won’t spend too much time away from the program with Matt, who has been by his side since 2018, taking over.
But he also said he would like to have a secondary role within the athletics department at MTSU, helping athletic director Chris Massaro.
“I’m going to be very much involved,” Rick Insell said. “There will be places that Chris could use me. It’s tough on him, because there’s several events that he’s got to attend. And on top of that, he’s on the (College Football Playoff Selection Committee).”
MORE: How MTSU assistant’s wife has battled breast cancer, put sports in perspective
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The Lady Raiders (16-15) have accepted a bid to the WNIT and will play the winner between St. Bonaventure and Drexel on March 23 at 6:30 p.m. at home. MTSU finished third in Conference USA and lost to Missouri State 69-66 in the league tournament quarterfinals.
The winningest coach in program history, Insell earned his 500th victory at MTSU in January and has 505 with the Lady Raiders and 1,279 overall, including his high school coaching career at Shelbyville.
“I’m 75 on my next birthday, and you know, I’ve kind of paid my dues,” Insell said. “I’ve been very blessed. I’m not in the best of health. I mean, I’m not dying, but I’m not in the best of health. So I felt like i twas time that I got myself healthy and where I could be around and maybe at this one’s (pointing at 5-year-old granddaughter Evie) wedding.”
MTSU reached 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in Insell’s 21 years.
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He is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, National High School Hall of Fame, Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame, Basketball Coaches of Tennessee Hall of Fame, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and TSSAA Hall of Fame, among others. He was inducted to the CUSA Hall of Fame in 2025.
Insell began coaching girls basketball at Shelbyville Central High School in 1978, where he had immense success, guiding the Golden Eaglettes to 10 state championships, 15 state championship game appearances and USA TODAY national titles in 1989 and 1991.
He won 774 games in his 28 years at Shelbyville, including a national-record 110 in a row during a streak in which the Golden Eaglettes won four consecutive state titles (1989-92). He was named national coach of the year four times (1989, 1991 by USA TODAY and 1990, 1992 by Converse).
After being hired by MTSU in 2005, he led the Lady Raiders to 20 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first year. During his second year MTSU went 30-4 record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. MTSU won at least 20 games in 18 of his 21 seasons and at least 25 wins in nine seasons.
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What will Insell miss most about coaching?
“Practice,” he said. “I love practice. I love coming in and teaching. I love seeing our players from June all the way through to October and then November. That what you work with them through the whole fall and apply that. And you know … you get excited about winning championships, and basically just teaching the fundamentals of the game.”
Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU women’s basketball coach Rick Insell to retire after 21 seasons
